Gifts of Grandeur: The Trembler Twig Bracelet, 1850

Bracelet
Gold, Enamel, Pearls
English, 1850
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Made just before the Great Exhibition, this lovely bracelet of gold, enamel and pears shows the leaning toward Naturalism in Nineteenth Century jewelry design. We’ve already discussed the addition of movement in such designs by introducing springed pieces called “tremblers” which quivered sparkled when the wearer moved.

Several of the pearl pieces of this bracelet act as tremblers and create a shimmering effect as it slid around on the lady’s wrist. This jewel was made during the societal reliance on

The Language of Flowers,” which assigned meaning to paricular floral groupings and blooms. Here, we see entwined twigs which represented unending love.

This would have been given as a courting gift and would have led up to a proper engagement.